Van Dijk expressed his desire to continue being a big leader for his teams for the next two years. He revealed his emotional state following a disappointing game and clarified that his comments had been misunderstood. Taking a holiday and spending time with his family helped him to calm down.

After Klopp’s departure, the arrival of Slot rejuvenated Van Dijk, and discussions regarding a new deal for him have been positively influenced by this development. Van Dijk emphasized the challenges of managing his responsibilities while maintaining his own performance levels during a long and intense season, including the Euros. He acknowledged that there were moments when he felt the burden of responsibility affecting his game.

Regarding his position as captain of the national team, Van Dijk mentioned having discussions with the coach about his role and performance and affirmed his importance both on and off the pitch. He also mentioned that the responsibility associated with his position can be challenging at times.